Mozilla VPN vs. NordVPN

Mozilla carved out its reputation as the privacy-first browser that puts users ahead of profits. So when Firefox’s parent company launched its own VPN service, privacy enthusiasts like us took notice. After all, a VPN is the cornerstone tool for protecting your digital footprint.

If you’re already using Firefox, you might be tempted to stick with the Mozilla ecosystem for your VPN needs. But hold that thought – we tested it head-to-head against one of the top VPNs in the industry, NordVPN. After purchasing subscriptions to both services and putting them through rigorous testing, NordVPN emerged as our clear winner, though Mozilla surprised us in a few areas. Here’s what we discovered.

Security

VPNs are fundamentally security tools, so we scrutinize every aspect of protection they offer. Beyond the technical specifications like encryption protocols, we examine privacy policies, corporate jurisdictions, and real-world performance to ensure your data stays truly private.

• Encryption: NordVPN uses ChaCha20 and AES-256. As the name implies, this encryption method employs a 256-bit key to encode your information into a cipher. AES-256 remains the encryption standard trusted by government agencies and financial institutions worldwide. Mozilla uses a 256-bit encryption method as well, which it creates by combining the ChaCha20 and Poly1305 keys. While AES-256 has decades of proven security, ChaCha20-Poly1305 offers comparable protection with better performance on mobile devices – making this essentially a tie.

• Protocols: After encryption, the VPN protocol is the next most crucial factor to consider. A VPN protocol is a set of rules that guides how the encryption is applied. NordVPN opted to use OpenVPN and a version of WireGuard they developed called NordLynx. OpenVPN has been around for more than 20 years. It’s open-source and has been extensively tested by security experts. WireGuard, while newer, has gained rapid adoption since 2020 due to its lean codebase and superior performance. Mozilla offers only one of the two options – WireGuard.
• Location: What does location have to do with your VPN’s security? Plenty. If your VPN is headquartered in a country that belongs to the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or 14 Eyes surveillance alliances, government agencies can force it to turn over customer data. NordVPN is located in Panama, a non-member of these alliances. However, Mozilla is located in the U.S., the ringleader of all three alliances.
• Privacy policies: The devil is in the details when it comes to privacy policies, and this is where we found the starkest difference between these two services. NordVPN stands out by keeping no logs of your online activities – no timestamps, browsing histories, or IP addresses. This no-logs policy has been independently audited by Deloitte multiple times. In contrast, Mozilla’s policy includes logging your actual IP address for 90 days. While Mozilla claims this is for fraud prevention, it creates a potential privacy vulnerability that simply doesn’t exist with truly zero-log services.
• VPN obfuscation: VPN obfuscation hides the fact that you’re using a VPN. NordVPN has specific obfuscated servers devoted to providing utmost secrecy. Mozilla hasn’t yet added this technology to its VPN service.
• RAM-based servers: Also known as diskless servers, RAM-based VPN servers are completely wiped after every reboot. This architecture makes it technically impossible to store user data long-term, even if someone wanted to. Mozilla and NordVPN both use RAM-based servers.
• Online threat blocking: Modern VPNs have evolved beyond simple encryption to become comprehensive security suites. Mozilla and NordVPN can both block ads, trackers, and malicious websites through their respective threat protection features. NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro goes further by scanning downloads for malware in real-time – functionality that’s typically reserved for dedicated antivirus software.
• Add-on privacy tools: Mozilla offers a host of other privacy tools like data breach monitoring and email masking, but we found NordVPN’s add-on tools more useful. For starters, you can upgrade your plan to include the NordPass password manager we reviewed. Dark web monitoring comes standard with most NordVPN subscriptions, alerting you if your credentials appear in data breaches. The Prime plan adds comprehensive identity theft protection with credit monitoring, cyber extortion coverage, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.

To be fair, Mozilla does have some valuable security features. For instance, the Mozilla VPN offers a kill switch and multi-hop technology. The thing is, NordVPN offers those as well. And, in all the other important security categories, NordVPN goes well beyond Mozilla.

Productivity and Entertainment

Beyond basic security, we evaluated how these VPNs handle real-world tasks like streaming, gaming, and remote work. The differences here were dramatic.

• Split tunneling: Split tunneling lets you log on to the regular internet at the same time you’re logged on to the VPN. This feature has become essential for remote workers who need to access local network resources while protecting other traffic. NordVPN delivers split-tunneling across Android, Android TV, Windows, and as of 2024, macOS devices.
• Servers: The more places where your VPN has servers, the more likely you are to find one in the location you need. NordVPN operates over 8,000 servers across 127 countries – giving you incredible flexibility for both security and content access. Mozilla has around 1,000 servers located in over 50 countries. While Mozilla’s network has grown since launch, it’s still a fraction of what major providers offer.
• Streaming access: Remember we said that NordVPN has obfuscation? This technology is crucial for maintaining access to geo-restricted content on platforms that actively block VPN traffic. In our testing, NordVPN consistently unblocked Netflix, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer across multiple regions. Since Mozilla doesn’t have this feature, we found it struggled with most major streaming platforms, often triggering proxy detection errors.

Mozilla does offer dedicated P2P servers optimized for torrenting, which is a nice touch for file-sharing enthusiasts. However, NordVPN’s massive server network means you’ll find P2P-optimized servers in far more locations, resulting in better speeds and reliability.

Pricing

Pricing structures have shifted significantly in the VPN market, with most providers now pushing longer-term commitments. Here’s how these two stack up.

For month-to-month flexibility, Mozilla takes the win at $9.99 monthly versus NordVPN’s $12.99. That’s a meaningful $36 annual difference if you’re commitment-shy.

However, the tables turn with longer commitments. An annual subscription to Mozilla costs $4.99 per month, while NordVPN’s annual plan runs $4.59 monthly. And, NordVPN offers a two-year subscription that drops to just $3.39 per month – a 32 percent savings over Mozilla’s best price.

It’s also worth noting Mozilla’s limited availability. The service operates in just 33 countries. While that covers major markets like the U.S., U.K., and most of Europe, travelers to Asia, Africa, or South America may find themselves unable to use the service they’re paying for.

The Bottom Line

Mozilla VPN represents a solid effort from a company with genuine privacy credentials. Its use of modern WireGuard protocol, RAM-only servers, and competitive monthly pricing make it worth considering for casual users who prioritize supporting ethical tech companies.

However, for anyone seeking comprehensive online protection, NordVPN remains the superior choice. Its independently audited no-logs policy, massive server network, reliable streaming access, and better long-term pricing deliver significantly more value. The addition of malware scanning and optional identity theft protection transforms it from a simple VPN into a complete digital security solution.

Sign up with NordVPN if you want

• The best VPN on the market
• Access to streaming content libraries in other countries
• A two-year subscription
• Split tunneling
• An airtight privacy policy

Sign up with Mozilla if you want

• A single-month subscription price below $10.00
• To support a company that prioritizes people over profits